Overwhelmed? 4 Ways to Get Over It Fast

As an entrepreneur, employee, sometimes caregiver, blogger and a single woman trying to date, I am sometimes OVERWHELMED!

When I am overwhelmed my mind goes into overdrive. I wake up every morning, if I slept at all, freaking out about all the things I have to do. Most of the time I don’t even know where to begin, which then leaves me stuck doing nothing and even more stressed out and overwhelmed.

There are clear signs when I am overwhelmed:

I am tired
Bedroom is a disaster
I am bitchy and project my frustrations onto others (not proud, but owning my behavior)
I hardly eat though I’m always hungry

It took a few meltdowns to figure out that when I am overwhelmed, I need to follow the fire safety technique taught to children: Stop, Drop and Roll.

Stop

Stop everything you are doing and admit that you are overwhelmed. Often times admitting you have an issue is the beginning to finding a solution.

I like to stop and go to a place mentally or physically that helps me quiet my mind. If I have time, I go to the beach, as that’s where I go to reboot. However, meditation is a great way to stop the constant chatter in your head enough to create a game plan.

Drop

Drop trying to multi-task. I was (and still am at times) the queen of multi-tasking, but now I consider it the Hot Mess Syndrome.

It’s when you’re so busy multi-tasking, you are never really focused on the current task at hand. Plus, your mind is usually cluttered with the fifty other tasks you “should” be focusing on, resulting in you and your work being a hot mess.

The best way to not be overwhelmed is to focus on one task at a time.

Roll

Roll into writing everything down that has you overwhelmed. Sometimes all it takes is getting all the things overwhelming you out of your brain and onto a piece a paper. Once you have everything written down you can then prioritize what needs to happen first.

If some of the things stressing you out are action items, create a to-do list. I like creating to-do lists using the Notes section on my Mac or iPhone so I have it with me at all times. There tons of apps like Evernote or Wunderlist that are helpful as well.

I also recommend adding sub-tasks under each bigger project when creating to-do lists. It’s easier to track and make sure that you’ve completed all the little details. Plus, being able to check things off will give you a sense of accomplishment.

Bonus Tip

Bite-size Your Tasks

Looking at the larger to-do list as a whole will only lead to more anxiety. Instead, review your to-do list and pick 2-3 things that you can get done in one day. Again, this will give you a sense of accomplishment and motivate you to do the same the next day.

Feeling overwhelmed can feel like your life is on fire. At least now you have some quick coping methods to help before you are burnt out.

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What do you do when you are feeling overwhelmed? Share your tips with us in the comments section